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Bell Pepper – Lentil Fritters / Capsicum Punugulu

VegCookBook by Praveena
South Indian style Fritters / Lentil balls called as Punugulu. Rich in fiber,protein,iron.
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Prep Time 3 hours
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 20 minutes
Course Appetizer, Snack, Starter
Cuisine South Indian
Servings 25 fritters approx.

Equipment

  • Blender/Grinder/Mixie.
  • Frying pan (for stove-top method)

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup Minappappu/ Urad Dal / Skinless Black Lentils
  • 1 large Capsicum (any colour)
  • 1 tablespoon Rice flour (heaped)
  • 4 count Green Chillies (or as per taste)
  • 1 inch size piece Ginger
  • 10 twigs Coriander
  • 1 teaspoon Jeera / Cumin Seeds
  • 1 teaspoon Ajwain / Vaamu / Carom Seeds
  • 1 twig Curry Leaves
  • 2 cups Water
  • ¼ teaspoon Turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • as required Cooking Oil (for deep fry)

Instructions
 

PREP WORK:

  • Take the urad dal/black gram/minappappu, into a wide vessel, wash them 2-3 times, thoroughly with cold water.
    Add water (3 times of urad dal), leave the vessel at room temperature for 3-4 hrs. Let them soak.
  • Later, drain the water and take the lentils/dal into a food processor/mixie.
    Grind into smooth batter (add few tablespoons of water if needed) and transfer it into a mixing bowl.
  • Chop finely, the onion, capsicum, coriander, curry leaves, green chillies, ginger.
    Transfer all above to the batter and add salt, rice flour, jeera/cumin seeds, carom/ ajwain seeds too.
    Mix everything gently but thoroughly. Keep aside. 

FRYING:

  • Put a frying pan with enough of cooking oil (for deep frying) on the stove top under high flame.
    Once the oil is perfectly hot, make a small ball of batter and drop each one gently into the oil. 
  • Fry them on one side for 2-3 mins and then flip them back to the other side gently.
    Fry on the other side also for 2-3 mins until they turn golden brown colour.
  • Take them out using the ladle onto a plate with paper towel on. Done!!

Notes

Please see the MAIN POST for step wise pics & recipe tips!
Keyword homemade protein rich lentil fritters, South Indian punugulu recipe, vegan lentil balls recipe